Brief:
This is one o' those Star Wars plastic model starter kits. T' kit consists o' a handful o' standard rocket components t' which is mounted a detailed plastic representation o' a Star Wars Episode I Droid Fighter. Recovery is via a standard chute. Arrr! Included with t' kit is a Porta-Pad, Launch Controller with Star Wars Logo, and launch supplies for three flights.

Construction:
T' base o' t' rocket consists o' a molded plastic combination fin can and motor mount. Well, blow me down! T' body tube is assembled from two narrow diameter paper tubes, me bucko, me bucko, a plastic diameter transition piece, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and a larger diameter black paper tube. A short black plastic nosecone tops off t' tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' Droid Fighter model clips t' a mount on t' fin can. Well, me hearties, blow me down! A plastic engine retainin' rin' is used t' secure t' motor within t' motor mount.

T' instructions are very clear, arrr, ya bilge rat, combinin' descriptive text with illustrative diagrams. Blimey! Avast! T' mix o' paper and plastic materials leads t' glue recommendations that may differ from step t' step. Ahoy! I used yellow glue for paper t' paper connections, and CA for t' plastic t' paper tube fittings. Begad! T' elastic shock cord is mounted by knottin' it and passin' it through a slot molded into t' tube transition piece. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! This leaves t' white shock cord knot visible outside t' black rocket. Ahoy! T' fin can has two molded fins, me bucko, and a molded mount point for t' Droid Fighter. Begad! T' Droid Fighter snaps over t' mount point and clicks into place. A small plastic lever must be pried up t' release t' fighter again. Ya scallywag! Arrr! A separate display stand is included for t' Droid Fighter model.

Finishing:
There is virtually no finishin' required on this kit. Arrr! All t' core rocket pieces are either molded black plastic, or black finished paper tubing. Avast! Begad! T' Droid Fighter itself is pre-painted. Bein' a paper body tube, thar are visible spirals on t' pre-finished tubes. I did take a black marker and color t' shock cord knot that is visible in t' slot o' t' body tube connector.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' kit comes complete with three Estes C6-3 motors, which are t' recommended first flight motors. Avast! This is a relatively heavy rocket, with significant drag from t' piggybacked model, so t' flight was slow and low. Begad! There was plenty o' smoke and fire in evidence t' wow t' young crowd. Arrr! It rose straight up approximately 200 feet, and started t' arc slightly just before burn-out. This may have been do t' t' light winds present at launch time.

Recovery:
T' ejection charge easily deployed t' chute at apogee, and t' chute brought t' rocket into t' hands o' t' waitin' chasers. Begad! Blimey! T' descent be fairly rapid, and t' rocket was caught before touchin' down. Arrr! It remains t' be seen whether t' plastic fins and Droid Fighter model can withstand a hardpan landing.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This kit, though nay a challenge t' build, arrr, shiver me timbers, was fun t' fly. Avast! Begad! Copious amounts o' smoke and fire were part o' t' show. This is a good rocket for a small field, me bucko, as it stays low and descends quickly. Blimey! Ya scallywag! More flights will tell whether more or less wind affects t' perceived initial flight arc. While t' rocket in this review emerged unscathed from its maiden flight, ya bilge rat, an identical kit built by a young modeler has a checkered past. Avast! He used yellow glue for t' plastic t' paper joints, and t' body tube separated at ejection on its first flight. Well, blow me down! Subsequent use o' epoxy solved that. Avast, me proud beauty! He describes some erratic flight for a subsequent flight, but his rocket flew fine (with t' same arc) shortly after me rocket flew. Arrr! T' plastic motor retention rin' on t' four time flown rocket has signs o' heat blistering. T' rin' from t' rocket built for this review didn't suffer that on its only flight.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5